Core · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Wood Chop
How to do the kettlebell wood chop, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Hold a kettlebell by the horns with both hands. Bring it high beside one shoulder, then swing it diagonally down and across to the opposite hip, rotating through your trunk. Control the kettlebell back to the start and repeat.
- 1Feel your obliques and core driving the diagonal path
- 2Let your hips rotate and your back foot pivot with the chop
- 3Keep a tight grip on the horns and a braced trunk
Common mistakes
- Don't let the kettlebell's swing take over the movement
- Avoid rounding or twisting your lower back under load
- Don't shrug your shoulders up toward your ears
Muscles worked
The kettlebell wood chop mainly works the obliques, with the forearms, upper abs, lower abs, lower back, and glutes assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- GlutesSupport
- LatsMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell wood chop for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.